The main argument of the book ‘The Sea-Wolf’ is about opposing behaviors of human being depicted by the role of nature in revealing the inner self of a person. In this regard, London uses two of his main characters to demonstrate the distinct opposing sides of human beings. The first part is about Humphrey, who is a young Dutch struggling with his demons and difficulties in the sea as he hope to change his life and those of fellow crews . Humphrey is initially weak, rich and naïve, and with straight morals . Humphrey believes on fairness, compassion, and all through the story despite being close to the evil Larsen he refuses to follow his footsteps .
Also, Jack London reveals the other opposite character of the human being through Wolf Larsen who rescues Van Weyden. Larsen is a murderer sea captain who is uncaring, evil and threatens his crew with cruelty despite their several trials to revolt against him. However, in the end, Larsen becomes ill and crashes on an island after his brother attacks him . The London’s argument is strong and a reality of what comprises human being. People have different characters, and these characters emerge through interactions, and tribulations that one faces in life. Also, it is true that nature defines one’s character as one can end up being either corrupt or good as one struggles to overcome the harshness of life .
Question Two
The life in the ship is harsh and full of struggles which represent the typical life experience of human being.
In our daily lives, we face various pressures that can ultimately result in bad decision-making, and poor judgement. However, it is not these pressures that prevent us from becoming a better version of ourselves, but our denial to acknowledge and learn from the trial that prevents our change. In “The Seafarer”, Conor McPherson illustrates this idea through the character of Sharky. The Irish play, set in a coastal town in northern Dublin, revolves around the main character, "Sharky" who moves back to Dublin in order to help his blind brother, Richard. Through characterization, McPherson shows that salvation is possible for people like Sharky because the main character has the potential to change and to become a better version of himself. It is shown through acceptance of responsibility, change and bettering his relationship with Nicky.
In the book, Robert Walton’s pride and confidence is seen in how he views himself, the expectations he has of his journey, and the sacrifices he is willing to make. Walton believes he is superior to all on his ship and claims he will not find a friend onboard. He calls his crew “uneducated”
The son had loved his father dearly but does not favor his way of life. His interest in school greatly outweighed his interest or desire to work on ‘The Boat’. He still had a love for the sea and in some way felt like he should carry out his family’s tradition. After his uncle had accepted a new job he took his position on the boat and promised his father that we would continue to sail with him for as long as he lived, and when his father passed despite the desires of his mother he followed his dreams and pursued education and all of its wonders. After living his life he finds himself longing for the sea again and isn’t so satisfied with his life.
The book is littered with explanations about fishing. I admit that I frequently got lost in these passages. This knowledge is an important element of the story. When a component of the boat malfunctions, readers know the significance of this to the sailors. Without this, the book would have provided a message that only other sailors could understand. Junger, by supplying this information, wants to make sure that all readers can fully grasp the danger and suspense of the book.
The protagonist’s struggle to decipher what the reality of his situation is a particular conflict in the source. The central character often makes statements about how much faith he has in his boat. One clear example
In Nantucket, the whaler’s island, every man had to be a whaler. Even if it wasn’t his dream job, just because it was the only way to survive in the island without being dropped out of the community. Philbrick introduces us to this starting point by quoting the words of Thomas Nickerson, the one who had been taught to “idolize the form of a ship” (Philbrick, 1).
Many men, women and children died on this brutal two-month trip. Starvation, illness, floggings and men jumping overboard into the seas took the lives of some around me. It was hard to fathom the horrible treatment the crew inflicted upon all of the men, women, and children; how they treated us
On the other hand, the protagonist’s name in TS is Jack Torrance. At first, readers build empathy towards this character because Jack happens to be a normal individual confronted with similar situations of everyday life. The different themes explored in TS evolve around real social concerns such as family matters, alcoholism, violence, child abuse and insanity. Motives of selfishness in a battle against nurturing behaviours are what confront Jack in his decision-making. Clasen argues that these conflicts ‘are rooted in human nature and reflect evolutionarily recurrent adaptive problems’ (Hauntings of Human Nature 3). The shifting points of view make readers change their mind rapidly about the protagonist. Jack is unreliable and genuinely evil.
After passing through the rugged ocean, Howland and his shipmates had no friends to welcome them. No houses or towns to repair when feeling down. As summer coming to a close, the weather was brutal, the whole country was full of woods, in which all represented a terrible
Humphrey, as well as Wolf, have read the English classics and study mathematics, literature, science, philosophy, and technology. Also, both have very philosophical points and views on life and rational and scholarly debates. Humphrey and Wolf enjoy having an intellectual debate, and both form seminars over the views, beliefs, points, values, and principles of life. Another similarity is that both share an infatuation on Maud Brewster, due to her intelligence, perception, brilliance, wit, and her “female delicacy”. But in philosophy, there are similar beliefs that both can’t argue with. Though they both believe in the eternal soul, they do differ in the continuation of life after death. Wolf explains to Humphrey that in life, strong eats, beats, overtakes, and outlive the weak. Though initially Humphrey disagrees, through events that occur on the ship he begins to mature and understand this philosophy. Wolf also mentions that living life as Humphrey did was pure piggishness. Humphrey instantly retaliates and claims that that statement is ludicrous, ill-advised, naive, laughable, and dumb. But as Humphrey develops, he realizes that it is indeed the case. Humphrey learns from Wolf that in order for humans to reach their potential, they have to work for their living and abide to the basic laws of nature, where the strong defeat the weak. This is why through the plot of the story,
Jack London’s novel, The Sea-Wolf, has many different interpretations. The story can be read as a combination of the naturalistic novel and the sentimental romance, both very popular around the turn of the century. London also brings into play literary naturalism, in which human beings are characterized as just another species in nature, subject to all of Her cosmic forces. The Sea-Wolf fits almost perfectly the archetypal pattern of an initiation story. Depth and interest are added to The Sea-Wolf by successfully integrating these three elements -- the combination of two popular genres, literary naturalism, and the initiation story.
Violence as a Motif in The Stranger and The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea
“Youth” is a short story written by Joseph Conrad who is an English short story writer. This piece of writing is inspired from real events of the writer’s life, specifically his first voyage to the East in 1881. It is an account of the voyage and the hardships encountered at sea in which the writer depicts the regressive state of the ship he is traveling in, and the uncooperative sea that would lead to the whole crew’s decay. This essay will study the ship, as a narrative space, from the narrator’s perspective, the effect it has on those on board who are determined to save it and how this space is affected by the wider space of the sea.
The Seafarer’s mood starts with depression and sorrow telling of hardships he endured in the sea. He describes his travels, “How the sea took me, swept me back and forth in sorrow and fear and pain.” (The Seafarer 21). It showed his suffering, tested his endurance, and gave him a will to live. He gets an feeling from the sea that no one could understand living on land, “At my sea-weary soul. No man sheltered On the quit fairness of earth can feel How wretched I was, drifting through winter On an ice-cold sea, whirled in sorrow, Alone in a world blown clear of love, Hung with icicles.” (The Seafarer 22). The pain of being alone and in constant worry is hard to live with, but he can’t help the need he has for the sea, “I put myself back on the paths of the sea. Night would blacken; it would snow from the north: Frost bound the earth and hail would fall. The coldest seeds, And how my heart would begin to beat, knowing once more The sault waves tossing and the towering sea! The time for journeys would come